Blackburn man died after suffering stroke and falling down stairs

A Blackburn man died after suffering a stroke and falling down stairs in his home, an inquest heard.

John Riding, 90, died on January 11 following the fall at Bank Hey Lane North, Blackburn, two days earlier.

The inquest, at Blackburn Coroner's Court, heard that Mr Riding was taken to the town’s hospital before being admitted to a ward the following day.

During the inquest the family of the father of two and granddad of seven raised concerns that he wasn’t properly assessed when he was admitted and over the length of time it took for him to be sent to a ward.

Mr Riding, a retired treasury officer at Blackburn With Darwen Council, was found on the ward floor on January 10 and had no recollection of falling off his bed.

Pathologist Dr Muhammad Aslam said the stroke started a chain of events that led to Mr Riding falling down the stairs and off his bed at the hospital.

Michael Singleton, coroner for Blackburn, Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley, recorded a narrative verdict.